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Microsoft Announces MS-Linux

The flexible "grassroots" operating system, now with the quality and enterprise-level service and support customers expect from Microsoft.

REDMOND, Wash., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the forthcoming release of MS-Linux(R), a new version of the well-known Linux(R) operating system designed for the enterprise.

"Prior to the development of MS-Linux, enterprise customers wouldn't dream of deploying mission-critical applications on an unsupported operating system," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of Microsoft's personal and business systems group. "All that has now changed."

Maximum compatibility and performance.

While other versions of Linux offer a variety of immature and largely incompatible windowing environments, MS-Linux includes an implementation of the familiar Microsoft(R) Windows(R) desktop, minimizing corporate training costs and allowing the hundreds of millions of Windows users worldwide to be productive right away.

MS-Linux provides a complete implementation of the Win32(R) API, enabling many of the thousands of applications written for the Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT(R), and Windows 2000 operating systems to run unchanged on MS-Linux. Microsoft will offer support for future releases of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity applications and the BackOffice family of server products running on MS-Linux. In addition, many existing MS-DOS(R) and SCO Unix programs will run on MS-Linux without modification. Benchmark tests performed by independent laboratories have shown that MS-Linux is the world's fastest Windows file server.

A groundswell of support from industry.

A number of leading development tool vendors will announce support for MS-Linux, including Bristol Technology Inc., Compuware Corp., Cygnus Solutions, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., Intel Corp., Metrowerks Inc., Rational Software Corp., Sybase Inc., and Tower Technology.

"The new Linux distribution from Microsoft gives the operating system the credibility it needs to gain a foothold in organizations where it has never gone before," said Jon Hall, Executive Director of Linux International, a non-profit Linux advocacy organization. Microsoft will become a corporate member of Linux International, and will make a substantial donation of funds and equipment to the organization. "Linux International looks forward to working with Microsoft for the benefit of current and future Linux users," added Hall.

According to VA Research President and CEO Larry Augustin, "VA Research is delighted that Microsoft is entering the fast-growing market for computers powered by Linux." VA Research has announced plans to bundle MS-Linux and selected Microsoft Office and BackOffice products with its powerful server, workstation, and laptop computers. VA Research has also agreed to make Microsoft its exclusive supplier of Linux-based operating systems going forward. "Having the Office and BackOffice suites running on computers from VA Research will give us a huge advantage in the marketplace," said Augustin.

Microsoft has engaged well-known author and programmer Eric S. Raymond to advise the company on certain intellectual property issues related to Linux. Raymond's paper "The Cathedral of the Bizarre" was a key factor in Microsoft's decision to develop a Linux product. "While Microsoft will not immediately release the source code for its version of Linux, the company has promised to do so eventually," said Raymond. "That's good enough for me."

"The Linux community and Microsoft are a great fit," says Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux. "After all, we both have the same goal, which is total world domination."

Separately, Microsoft has announced the opening of a new recruiting center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. "Microsoft is always looking for talented individuals to join our team," said Mike Murray, Microsoft's vice president of human resources and administration. "We often recruit in communities that are expected to have significant numbers of folks looking for work in the near future."

Pricing and availability.

Microsoft expects to release English and international versions of MS-Linux Version 3.1 for Intel- and RISC-based computers on or before April 1, 2000. Pricing has not been announced.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable to take advantage of people using personal computers every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Win32, BackOffice, MS-Linux, and Linux are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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